Ernesto IS Hector!

You don't look at storms in the Pacific very often.  Neither do I and I'm a meteorologist!

A first glance, Hector doesn't look like much. His 40 mph winds don't impress me.  But his birthplace in the ATLANTIC OCEAN does!  Hector used to go by the name Ernesto.  In the graphic I made you can follow Ernesto's track.  The once category 1 hurricane made two landfalls, including a trip over Mexico's mountains and still managed to make it to the Pacific.  Ernesto lost his name after being downgraded to a tropical rainstorm (look for the blue dot on my graphic).  If Ernesto remained a tropical depression or better while crossing the Mexican mountains, he could have kept his name.

Why does this impress me?  When storms make landfall they are taken away from their primary source of energy, warm water!  The circulation is also torn apart by friction.  So for a storm to have a persistent area of circulation after two landfalls is incredible!

This got me wondering how many storms have crossed over in the past...it's certainly rare!  Only a handful of storms have made the journey.

Taken from NOAA website: 

Northeast Pacific Tropical Storm Alma (May 2008) became a remnent low in the Atlantic where it merged with another tropical wave which generated Atlantic Tropical Storm Arthur.

Atlantic Hurricane Iris (October 2001) become a remnant low over Central America and regenerated in the Northeast Pacific as Tropical Storm Manuel.

Atlantic Hurricane Cesar (July 1996) became Northeast Pacific Hurricane Douglas.

Atlantic Tropical Storm Bret (August 1993) became Hurricane Greg in the Northeast Pacific.

Northeast Pacific Hurricane Cosme became Atlantic Tropical Storm Allison (June 1989).

Atlantic Hurricane Joan (October 1988) became Northeast Pacific Hurricane Miriam.

Atlantic Hurricane Greta (September 1978) became Northeast Pacific Hurricane Olivia.

Atlantic Hurricane Fifi (September 1974) became Northeast Pacific Tropical Storm Orlene.

Atlantic Hurricane Irene (September 1971) became Northeast Pacific Tropical Storm Olivia.

Atlantic Hurricane Hattie (October-November 1961) after dissipating over Guatemala contributed to the formation of Northeast Pacific Tropical Storm Simone which crossed the isthmus of Teuhantepec and merged with other disturbed weather which later formed Atlantic Tropical Storm Inga.

A Northeast Pacific Tropical Storm (September-October 1949) became an Atlantic Hurricane (Storm #10) and made landfall in TX.

A Northeast Pacific Tropical Storm (October 1923) became an Atlantic Hurricane (Storm #6) and made landfall in LA.